Appetizers

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Aria. Dinner at Buckhead’s Finest.

01/24/2012 in Appetizers, Buckhead, Where we're Eating by Lindsay | 2 comments

I ate too much over my birthday weekend.  FACT.

Also FACT: My most delicious meal was eaten at Aria. 

This Buckhead institution is known for its delicious food, excellent service, extensive wine list, and super-exclusive wine room table.  It’s a restaurant that I think of for celebrations.  Turning 30 was an appropriate one.  I was treated to this fantastic dinner by my fantastic friend, Gorms.  You are going to be so disgusted impressed by how much we ate!

We began our feast by polishing off Pastry Chef Kathryn King’s Warm Focaccia Bread and a glass of pinot gris.  If there was a such thing as a winter coat made out of bread – I’d want it to be this bread. 

Next up was Aria’s Creamless Celery Root Soup with black truffles and parmesan.

Potato and Goat Cheese Ravioli with lamb and mushroom bolognese and reggiano parmigiano followed.

Warm Lobster Cocktail with butter braised Maine lobster, broccoli, and black truffle potatoes were next.  This was incredibly delish!  Gorm’s favorite, in fact.

For entrees, we shared the Blue Ridge Mountain Trout with sweet potatoes, black trumpet mushrooms, Maine lobster, and white corn…

…and the Painted Hills Ranch Natural Beef Short Rib with celery root whipped potatoes, tender carrots, sugar snap peas, and celery hearts.

They were cooked to perfection.  So many lovely flavors!

Dessert began with a sensational Warm Apple Tart with caramel ice cream to share…

…and ended with a delightful birthday plate of chocolate surprises!  :)

The meal was OUT OF THIS WORLD (as predicted)!  If you have something to celebrate – celebrate here.  I would also tell you to order exactly like we did.  We had such a nice variety of savory and pastry, and I really feel like it was an excellent sampling of Aria’s menu.  I’ve never heard anything negative about this restaurant, and I only have very positive praise to add!  So well done! 

Enjoy, restaurant-goers!  And, thank you Gormsie, for such a delicious night!

xx, L

Aria
490 E. Paces Ferry Rd. NE
Atlanta, Georgia  30305
404.233.7673
www.aria-atl.com

Aria on Urbanspoon

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STK Opens in Midtown!

12/15/2011 in Appetizers, Cocktails, Events, Midtown, PSAs, What we're Doing, Where we're Eating by Lindsay | 4 comments

Last night, Lauren and I met up with some dolled-up girlfriends and hopped over to Jezebel’s Grand Opening Party for STK Atlanta!

We stepped + repeated, drank a few of STK’s signature martinis, watched very bendy dancers put on quite an interesting STK-inspired performance, and we hobnobbed with some big shot Atlantans, including Mr. Peter Thomas (satisfying my RHOA spotting for the month).  Thank you very much.  :)

Q+DD @ STK

It was an excellent way to toast the opening of this NYC-based restaurant (with locations in L.A., Miami + Vegas) that has positioned itself as a “steakhouse for women.” 

STK’s space on 12th and Peachtree is GORGEOUS.  Very modern + plush.  I was particularly impressed with the signature white horns grazing the bar wall.  So cool. 

And, we were really pleased with the small bites we sampled over the course of the evening.  STK’s sliders were seriously delish.

We’re super excited about STK!  This place is going to kill it.

xx, L

STK Atlanta
1075 Peachtree Street NE
Atlanta, GA  30309
404.793.0144
http://www.stkhouse.com/

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An Evening at Fifth Group’s Alma Cocina

12/14/2011 in Appetizers, Cocktails, Downtown, Where we're Eating by Lindsay | 4 comments

As y’all know, Fifth Group’s restaurants are some of my favorites in Atlanta.  Sooooooo naturally, I’ve been closely watching the progress of their newest downtown hot spot, Alma Cocina.

Set to open this month, Lauren + I were recently able to take a sneak peak into the contemporary Mexican restaurant to try out some of their tasty bites!

When it officially opens, Alma Cocina will serve lunch + dinner and provide catering services to the downtown Atlanta area.  The restaurant accommodates about 200 guests for traditional dining room seating, accented by two distinct bar areas with large booths and communal tables which spill out into the beautiful One Ninety One Peachtree Tower atrium.

We sat at the bar, which was a spectacular choice, because we got to spend two full hours with the fabulous bartender Tony – who, get THIS, plays a zombie in AMC’s The Walking Dead seasons 1+2!  We love him.  MEET him.

I started off with a skinny girl margarita called “Just Wear Black”: Herradura silver tequila, agave syrup, and hand-squeezed lime juice.  It was goooooooood.  Made perfectly.

Lauren opted for some amazing-looking rum drink.  I missed the name of the cocktail, and admittedly, the ingredients - but I DO know this: Lauren liked it a lot.  And, it comes in a cool glass.  Witness, por favor:

Our man Tony ordered us some traditional Guacamole: tomato, lime, cilantro, red onion, and serrano.  It was good.  Although we didn’t try it, we thought the Guacamole & Butternut Squash on the menu sounded pretty cool.  It’s seasoned with chipotle and queso fresco.

Lauren and I decided to share everything – small plates and entrees.  We certainly brought our appetites.

One of my favorite dishes of the night was the Yellowtail Ceviche: pickled mango, cucumber-serrano water, coconut granita, Fresno chile, and micro cilantro.  So fresh – so light and unexpected at a Mexican restaurant. 

Next up, Braised Lamb Taquitos: cucumber-mint salsa, fire-roasted salsa, queso cotija, and pomegranate seeds.  We thought the pomegranate seeds were such a nice touch, and they added a unique flavor to this creative dish.

We moved on to the Huitlacoche Empanada: corn truffle, charred tomato, jalapeno, queso Oaxaca, epazote, and salsa ranchero.  It hit the spot.

Tony stopped us there and informed us that we needed a wee bit more to drink.  (Did I mention that we loved Tony?!)  He whipped up a blended pina colada with ginger for us to share.  It tasted like Christmas in Mexico!  And, you MUST know by now how we feel about umbrellas in our drinks.  We couldn’t have been happier if we tried.  :)

We made Tony take a picture of us with it…

hello!!

Eventually, it was dinner time.  We shared a Pork Pibil Tamale: banana leaf-braised with bacon-corn masa, green chile sauce, crema, and pico de gallo.

And, also a Roasted Chicken Mole Oaxaca: mashed plantains, grilled green beans, and sesame seeds.  I pretty much ate all of the plantain mash.  SO good.  Sorry, Lauren…

To finish off our grande meal, we shared a few bites of the refreshing Grapefruit-Mint Sorbet: rum-marinated pineapple, guajillo chile sauce. 

I’m fully aware that that was a lot of food for two lovely ladies, and I’m being completely honest when I say that we ate most of it and we weren’t in a food coma when we left the restaurant.  The plates were smallish – perfect for sharing – and many of them were lighter than you’d expect at a Mexican restaurant.  We LOVED Alma Cocina + we’re thrilled to add it to our Fifth Group favorites list!  Heck, we’ll even drive downtown to eat there…  Anytime.

Welcome, Alma Cocina!  Ay! Ay! Ay!  We’ll be back soon.

xx, L

Alma Cocina
191 Peachtree Street
Atlanta, GA  30303
http://www.alma-atlanta.com/

Alma Cocina on Urbanspoon

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The Best Steak Tartare in Atlanta….

12/08/2011 in Appetizers, Random Musings, Westside, Where we're Eating by Lindsay | No comments

…can be found at Abattoir.  (Oooooooooooooh, ahhhhhhhhhh!)

steak tartare w/ miso-soy glaze, sesame aioli + quail egg

It’s legit.  That’s all.

xx, L

Abattoir
1170 Howell Mill Road
Atlanta, GA  30318
404.892.3335
www.starprovisions.com

Abattoir on Urbanspoon

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Ritz Carlton Lodge Weekend (2 of 2): Heaven Found in the Georgia Woods

11/10/2011 in Appetizers, Chocolate, Cocktails, Event Space, Holidays, Hotels, Out of Town, Spa, Vacation, What we're Doing, Where we're Eating by Lindsay | 4 comments

So, continuing from yesterday… Kevin + I spent Halloween weekend at the Ritz Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation.

As a recap, the Ritz Lodge is located in Northern Georgia, just 75 miles east of Atlanta on the shores of Lake Oconee – Georgia’s second largest lake.  Luxury merges with quintessential Southern hospitality at the stunning 251-room resort.  Nestled in the woods, the Ritz Lodge is surrounded by water on three sides, offering commanding lake views.  Draped in beds of ivy and edged by towering pines, blooming crepe myrtles and colorful caladiums, the five-story main building fronts the glistening lake, while six separate lakeside cottages and a presidential house with four master suites overlooks the Oconee Golf Course.  Lodge guests have full access to a complete gamut of activities and amenities, including a state-of-the-art Spa, tennis, two swimming pools, two full-service marinas, hiking trails and 99 holes of championship-caliber golf.

model view of the lake oconee area

We arrived late on Friday evening, but just in time to have the most delicious dinner at Linger Longer Steakhouse.  We checked in, grabbed another drink at the Lobby Lounge bar, and then headed upstairs to check out our room. 

When we woke up in the morning, we realized that we were on Club Level (holla!).  And, we had a private terrace with an outstanding lakeside view! 

Check out THIS gorgeousness:

ritz carlton lodge

room w/ a view

We spent a significant amount of the morning sitting on our balcony staring at our breathtaking view of Lake Oconee and the Ritz Lodge grounds.  It was the most relaxed I’ve been in a long time.

When our hunger finally got the better of us, we walked over to Club to get some grub (I totally recommend staying on Club Level*) + then we went out exploring. 

*Club Level: The Ritz Carlton Club Level features both deluxe guest rooms and suites, with a spacious lounge and personal concierge and staff, as well as four complimentary food and beverage offerings daily: continental breakfast, a light snack, hors d’oeuvres, and cocktails + evening cordials.  The Club Level is accessible only with a special key.

Just look at how magnificent the property is:

the set up for chiminea dining

heated infinity pool overlooking lake oconee (my favorite part of the whole property)

hot tub

We were overtaken by our beautiful surroundings + so many amazing amenities.  We walked a bit further, and then Kev dropped me off at the Ritz Lodge Spa for my Long Winter’s Nap treatment. 

The Spa is an adventure in and of itself.  An expansive 26,000 square feet, the Ritz Lodge Spa is adjacent to the hotel and features 19 private treatment rooms, one couples spa suite, four wet treatment rooms – including one hydrotherapy room – male and female relaxation areas with lockers and changing facilities, an indoor lap pool, saunas, steam rooms, whirlpools, a relaxation terrace, a full-service salon + a spa boutique.  Named one of America’s top resort spas by Conde Nast Traveler, this state-of-the-art sanctuary offers more than 90 health and wellness treatments, many of them utilizing ingredients indigenous to the area, such as rosemary, pine, fir and geranium, and extracts gleaned from gemstones such as smithsonite and malachite.

Here’s a peek inside:

spa lobby

spa pool

spa relaxation lounge

It was heavenly, to say the least.

My treatment, the Long Winter’s Nap, was perfect for the chilly October afternoon.  Here’s the description: A blend of essential oils add to this traditional hot stone massage to create a relaxed dream-like state, melting away stress and muscle tension.  Continue the sweet dreams with a nap that enhances the repair process.  Um, yes, I’ll take two!  (Kidding.)  It was SO enjoyable – I definitely recommend.

By the time I left the Spa it was pushing up to the Florida vs. Georgia game, so Kev + I scooted over to Gaby’s by the Lake to stake out seats. 

Gaby’s is a newly-renovated outdoor venue offering sweeping views of Lake Oconee, as well as a full menu of casual favorites and cocktails throughout the day.  Guests are seated at the water’s edge and can catch a spectacular sunset most evenings.  “Come-as-you-are” attire for lunch and dinner.

As soon as we walked in, we fell in love with Gaby’s.  It was so open and casual, and had large TV screens over the bar for us to watch the game.  I’m OBSESSED with Gaby’s chairs - incredibly comfortable and such a cool design!

We ordered beers + the housemade potato chips with bourbon BBQ, blue cheese and Vidalia onion dips.  The bartender also threw in a bowl of boiled peanuts.  We were set.

We met some friendly folks at the bar who were also rooting for the Gators + we became fast friends.  However, Kev couldn’t bear to see his Gators lose, so we eventually closed out our bill and decided to head back to Club to see what was going on in there. 

We stopped to take this picture along the way:

We ate dinner in Club, poured some wine + headed downstairs to the campfire for 8:00 p.m. S’mores!  All the kids staying at the resort (and Kevin and I, naturally) got in line to prepare our special evening snack over the campfire.  We had such a fun time doing this + pretending that we also had a kid around somewhere making s’mores…  Kids at heart?!  Yeaaaaaaa! 

We went back up to Club, poured some more wine (don’t judge), changed into our swimsuits + ran down to the hot tub to spend the next few hours hanging out outside and enjoying our last night on the property.

In the morning, we were both feeling pretty gluttonous.  So, we decided to go for a walk on the Oconee Trail after breakfast in Club. 

Our walk was eventful. 

We got about 5 miles of exercise on the winding trail…

We saw the leaves turning on the towering Georgia pine trees…

Kev whittled a walking stick (that now calls our condo balcony home)…

And, we plotted how we could stay at the Ritz Lodge F.O.R.E.V.E.R.!! 

(We couldn’t come up with a way…  We are already dying to go back.)

It was so hard to leave, but it only took us about an hour and a half to get back to Atlanta + now we have such great memories from our relaxing weekend in the Georgia woods. 

If you haven’t been to the Ritz Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation – you absolutely MUST go!  There is so much to do there; perfect for adults and kids alike.  The Ritz Lodge is a relaxing Southern paradise that makes you feel so far away from your worries and stressors, but it’s merely a 75-mile drive from Atlanta!  Visit soon! 

Oh, also, (as if there isn’t enough to do there already) the Ritz Lodge is building an ice skating rink on property for winter!  More info here: WINTER AT THE RITZ LODGE.

xx, L

Ritz Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation
1 Lake Oconee Trail
Greensboro, Georgia  30642
706.467.7196
http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/ReynoldsPlantation/Default.htm

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Our Continued Love Affair w/ Ecco…

11/08/2011 in Appetizers, Guilty Pleasures, Midtown, Where we're Eating by Lindsay | 2 comments

I promise (okay, I can’t REALLY promise) that this is the last thing I’ll say about Ecco for at least two weeks.  So, here I go…  Um, guys, is there anything in this world better than their fried goat cheese balls??

these will be the death of me…

I think not.  I really think not.  Fried goat cheese, honey + black pepper.  So simple, so decadent, so unbelievably O.M.GGGG.  Really, that’s all.

xx, L

Ecco
40 7th Street NE
Atlanta, GA  30308
404.347.9555
www.ecco-atlanta.com

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Italian Fare Worth the Schlep…

10/17/2011 in Appetizers, Cocktails, Sandy Springs, Suburbs, Where we're Eating by Lindsay | 3 comments

On Friday night, I dragged Lauren, Greg + Kevin OTP to try Double Zero Napoletana.

It seemed like such a hike to get there (it’s situated past I-285 on Roswell Road…no man’s land in my book), BUT the restaurant had had quite a stint on Urbanspoon since it opened and I was intrigued.  So, we gassed up the car + hit the road!

Here’s the Q+DD on Double Zero Napoletana:

Double Zero Napoletana (DZ) is an upscale southern Italian restaurant featuring the cuisine of the Campania region.  DZ has a strong focus on traditional Neapolitan Pizza among other southern Italian dishes.  They feature an extensive selection of Southern Italian cured meats and cheeses, Insalata (salad), Antipasti & Sfizi (small plates), fresh handmade pasta, and Secondi (Entrée) dishes.  Make no mistake, although pizza has an important place on their menu, DZ’s modern, contemporary versions of traditional Italian ingredients + specialties aim to delight Atlanta diners.

What’s In a Name?:

Double Zero refers to the type of flour used to make Neapolitan pizza.  In Italy, flour is classified either as 1, 0, or 00, and the designation refers to how finely ground the flour is and how much of the bran and germ have been removed.  Doppio Zero, the most highly refined, is talcum-powder soft.  The Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana, which upholds the traditions and stipulations of traditional Neapolitan pizza, states that only Doppio Zero Flour, DOP San Marzano tomatoes, all natural Fior-di-Latte or Bufala fresh mozzarella, fresh basil, sea salt and yeast can be used in the making of Neapolitan Pizza.

This is serious business, obv.

Kevin and I arrived a bit earlier than Lauren and Greg, so we parked it at DZ’s bar.  Our bartender, a really friendly fellow w/ a heavy accent, cheerily greeted us.  (This was just the start to the exceptional service we had over the course of the evening.)  Kev ordered up DZ’s signature cocktail: Barrel Aged Negroni.  It tasted sort of like an Old Fashioned, but with a twist.  Gin, Campari, Carpano Antica Vermouth + a flamed orange (aged at DZ in bourbon barrels for 6 weeks).  It was an impressive drink to watch the bartender prepare:

I opted for my trusty go-to, an Aviation, which I was excited to find on the menu.  Maybe the suburbs are hipper than I think??  Shortly thereafter, Lauren + Greg arrived and we sat down for our meal.

DZ's massive menu

We ordered up + quickly devoured (too fast for me to snap a photo) the Burrata + Proscuitto: fresh burrata mozzarella, mangalista prosciutto, arugula, red onion marmalade, balsalmic caviar, saba vinegar + basil oil.  Also on our table (but not for long) was the delicious Pork Belly Risotto: crisp pork belly, sweet potato pumpkin risotto, balsalmic glaze, broccoli rapini + slow cooked poached egg.

My favorite app was the Arancini: lemon saffron risotto croquettes, peas, red pepper, scamorza cheese, roasted yellow pepper coulis + meyer lemon honey.

Each of the appetizers were exceptionally tasty and very thoughtfully plated.  I strongly recommend starting with a few before jumping to entrees. 

For dinner, we shared the Carne Pizza: braised short ribs, bludi bufala cheese, fingerling potatoes + grape tomatoes.

And, of course, the Double Zero Napoletana Pizza: olive oil, garlic, mozzarella di bufala campana DOP, fresh arugula, prosciutto di parma, pecorino gran cru + basil oil.

The pizzas arrived with scissors which we used to cut slices.  We got a serious kick out of it!

To accompany our delicious meal, we all ordered wine from DZ’s extensive Italian collection.  Although I was unfamiliar with most of the regional grapes, the menu was very user-friendly breaking out the grapes in comparison to others that are more familiar.  For example, I ordered a glass of the Planeta La Segreta Blanco because above it was a line that read “think Pinot Grigio.”  I personally appreciated the guidance… 

lonely scissors

Our meal was very enjoyable and I will absolutely make the trek OTP again for another DZ evening.  I elaborated about our actual food, but I also want to make a point to say that the service was exceptional, as well.  Even our food runner was engaging!  And, THAT is how you get an ITP crowd to venture OTP!

ITP dining OTP

I guess sometimes you really just need to listen to the hype...  DZ has been killing it on Urbanspoon for a reason, y’all!  We’ll be back very soon. 

xx, L

Double Zero Napoletana
5825 Roswell Road
Atlanta, GA  30328
404.991.3666
http://www.doublezeroatl.com/home/

Double Zero Napoletana on Urbanspoon

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Right at Home @ Big Tex Cantina.

08/15/2011 in Appetizers, Austin, Cocktails, Decatur, Where we're Eating by Lindsay | 4 comments

I’ve said it once.  I’ll say it again.  I love Texas.  I haven’t lived in the Great State for almost seven years, but I frequently visit + I know for a fact that my affinity for anything Texas is one of the first things Slick will reference when he tells people who I haven’t met about me.  Big hair, big cars, big attitude – I’m a big, BIG fan!  I mean, “God (even) blessed it w/ his own hands…”  So, when Slick informed me that the Fox Bros. (Fox Bros. BBQ) were opening a Tex-Mex joint named Big Tex Cantina in Decatur, I was immediately game. 

big tex cantina – decatur

We planned to meet our fellow Fox Bros. BBQ-lovin’ friends, Scott + Elizabeth, to try out Big Tex last week, so I conducted some serious menu research throughout the days leading up to it.  I needed to know what I was getting into, y’all.  On the day of the dinner, Slick successfully talked me out of wearing my cowboy hat.  (So I was excited – sue me!)  Nevertheless, as soon as I stepped into the restaurant, I felt like I was home. 

Check it:

(currently trying to find this for my condo)

I’m pretty sure that the chandelier was my favorite Texas-inspired decoration, but it’s hard to say for sure…

After oogling the walls for about 15 minutes, we sat down and perused the extensive menu.

Without a second thought, I ordered up a Mexican Martini, which I am sure was inspired from my beloved Trudy’s in Austin.  It wasn’t nearly as good as Trudy’s world-famous MM, but it did the trick.

Elizabeth opted for the Texas Bloody Mary which arrived with an olive + a green bean.  She enjoyed it, but we both agreed that a Bloody Mary is an awkward dinner drink. 

My favorite item we ordered for dinner was a special we all saw on the chalkboard outside of the front door: the Bacon Taquitos.  They were absolutely mouthwateringly good!  No joke.  AMAZING.

Slick, Elizabeth + I all ordered tacos for dinner.  Each of our plates looked similar to Slick’s pictured below.  From left to right:

The Tex Taco: Chopped brisket with a spicy mustard sour cream, BBQ sauce, griddled jalapenos, diced onion + shredded lettuce.  (Very tasty + the house special.)

The Carinta Taco: Chopped pork, griddled jalapenos, diced onion + shredded lettuce.  (It was so incredibly salty, Slick + I couldn’t eat it.  I do not recommend.)

El Guapo Taco: A flour tortilla filled with refried beans, a crispy taco shell with house ground beef, lettuce, cheese + pico de gallo.  (My favorite!  It was like a fancy Cheesy Gordita Crunch from Taco Bell!  And, I’m pretty sure it weighed about three pounds.  Judge me.) 

Scott ordered the enormous Big Tex Chicken Chimichanga: a huge tortilla filled with pulled chicken, pinto beans, pico de gallo + cheese rolled and fried, topped with their signature Texas queso + pico de gallo.  Did I mention how enormous it was??!

It was a feast, to say the least.  (Rhyming!) 

scott + elizabeth

Are they a cute couple or what?!  :)

I can’t say that any of us actually finished our massive meals, but we truly put in some serious effort.  NO room for dessert, although the Red Velvet Cheesecake sounded tempting.  After we settled up with our server, we walked around the restaurant again and discovered a substantial party room in the very back complete with TVs, pool tables + skeeball!  This space is totally ideal for a birthday party or a fun night out with a group!

Big Tex Cantina was very enjoyable.  It’s priced well, the restaurant doesn’t accept reservations but it’s large enough that you wouldn’t have to wait forever, + they’ve done really well with the Texas-themed decor (at least in my book!).  The menu is extensive + I have faith that the restaurant will be successful.  Having the Fox Bros. name behind it, at the very least, means something.  If you are trying to satisfy a random Mexican food craving, I probably wouldn’t recommend making the trek to Decatur to test out Big Tex over heading to Taqueria del Sol.  BUT, if you are into trying out new spots, you love the Great State as much as I do, or you are seriously hungover (get the Chimichanga - trust me.), Big Tex will do the trick. 

YeeHAW, partner!

xx, L

Big Tex Cantina
308 W. Ponce de Leon Ave.
Decatur, GA  30030
404.377.3939
http://www.bigtexcantina.com/

Big Tex Cantina on Urbanspoon

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Brunchie Munchies…

07/25/2011 in Appetizers, Guilty Pleasures, Inman Park, Where we're Eating by Lindsay | No comments

Here at the Q+DD, we take Sunday brunching pretty darn seriously.  And, as we’ve previously mentioned, Serpas True Food offers one of the best brunches around town.  Today, I’m about to show you two very compelling + decadent reasons why I fell in love all over again yesterday with Serpas’ Sunday brunch.

1 – New Orleans Beignets dusted with confectioners sugar.  JUST the right amount, too.

2 – Pigs in a Blanket with housemade andouille sausage, puff pastry + creole mustard.  Divine, divine!

These are just two of my favorite brunch items to share at Serpas – we aren’t even getting into the entrees themselves at this point…  Serpas’ brunch is absolutely stellar!  Out of this world, even.  AND, get ready for this one, they have the best coffee mugs around town.  Fact.

Def. make a reservation for Serpas’ Sunday brunch this weekend!  :)

xx, L

Serpas True Food
659 Auburn Ave. NE #501
Atlanta, GA  30312
404.688.0040
www.serpasrestaurant.com

Serpas True Food on Urbanspoon

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To Die For Cocktail in Decatur @ Leon’s FS

07/22/2011 in Appetizers, Cocktails, Decatur, We can BLOG!, Where we're Eating by Lindsay | 2 comments

As you all know, The Q+DD is a Leon’s Full Service SUPERFAN (as evidenced HERE and HERE), but things have been quite busy – life got in the way – and, unfortunately, I don’t always make it Decatur as much as I’d like.  :(

leon's full service - decatur

It has been a serious while since I last stuffed my face dined at Leon’s + I decided to rectify that with colleagues yesterday evening.  SOOOO glad I did! 

Witness our gluttonous feast:

the carnage...

(the carnage)

We ate e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.gggggggg.  Bacon in a glass; peppdews stuffed with goat cheese; prince edward island mussels with witbier + lemongrass broth; the pig smorgas with melted gruyere grand cru, cherry jam + pineapple on toast (my personal fav.); cornmeal fried calamari; maroon-colored beet hummus with feta; charcuterie + cheese plates; sundried tomato grilled flatbread with smoked mozzarella; scallops; pork chops; a truly impressive amount of pub fries + delicious dipping sauces; etc, etc. etc… 

We weren’t messing around, y’all. 

The food was so mouth-wateringly amazing, and honestly, better than my last two experiences there – which were still great but not fabulously excellent.  Last night was fabulously excellent.

However, one of my favorite of our orders was actually not food at all, but rather it was part of their creative summer cocktail list.  Rosh selected The Wasp as her drink of choice for the evening.  (And, I almost finished it for her.)  This drink is spectacular, guys.

the wasp

The Wasp:  Redemption rye whisky, Georgia peach honey, lemon juice, salt + pepper w/ a big fancy ice cube in the middle.  Try it!  Try it!

And, PLEASE make a point to visit Decatur more often if you’re stuck in Midtown, Buckhead, Brookhaven, etc., like I’ve been.  It’s really not that far out of the way or difficult to get to.  Leon’s should be your first stop.  (But, again, this is v. old news…)

xx, L

Leon’s Full Service
131 E. Ponce de Leon Ave.
Decatur, GA  30030
404.687.0500
www.leonsfullservice.com

Leon's Full Service on Urbanspoon

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Really Big Week. HUGE!

07/12/2011 in Appetizers, Cocktails, Harry Potter, Museums, What we're Doing, What we're Listening To, What we're Watching, Where we're Eating by Lindsay | No comments

Y’all!  I’ve been waiting for this week for months… 

Check it:

Rihanna performs tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Chastain Amphitheatre as part of her Loud tour!  Do I care that it’s going to be 98 degrees outside today?  I care not.  I’m going to be an amazingly sweaty mess of white girl dancing it up with colleagues (yes, colleagues; again - I care not) at Rihanna tonight.  I’ve had “Rude Boy” stuck in my head all morning… 

“call me rude boy boy can you get it…”

BRING IT, RiRi!  This concert is going to be red hot – literally.  And, it just recently went up in flames in Dallas, also literally, so it should be an exciting evening to say the least.

chastain

But wait, there’s more…  Thursday night, I’m taking colleagues to the High Museum to see the Modern by Design exhibition.  We’re starting with drinks + hors d’oeuvres at Table 1280, then moseying over to the museum to see modern masterpieces from the MoMA + High’s growing collection of contemporary design. 

Here’s the Q+DD on Modern by Design:

As part of the High’s ongoing collaboration with The Museum of Modern Art, Modern by Design presents groundbreaking designs of the past, present, and future.  The exhibition features a selection of works chronicling three key moments in MoMA’s design collection and exhibition history—“Machine Art” (1934); “Good Design” (1950-1955); and “Italy: The New Domestic Landscape” (1972).  Nearly 150 objects created by over 120 of the most influential artists + designers of the twentieth century are included.

joe colombo’s tube chair

See for yourself!  The exhibit is running through August 21.

This, however, is the grand finale: On Thursday evening, July 14, I have midnight Phipps Plaza tickets to see, in 3D, the final chapter of the Harry Potter saga: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2!  (Chills, I have chills!)

 

I. can’t. even. think. straight. I. am. SO. excited.

It’s going to be a long night, but it will be worth it.  (TWSS.) 

I feel like the next day I’m going to need some time for reflection: who am I? what does all this mean?  what do I do now?  and so on + so forth…  I’ve been seriously invested in + excited about the Harry Potter stories for well over ten years!  It’s hard to believe that it all comes to an end this week. 

Whelp, let’s get it started, shall we?  We shall.  Happy week to you all!  :)

xx, L

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Strawberry Pimm’s Cup for Summer

05/31/2011 in Appetizers, Cocktails, Guilty Pleasures, Highlands, What we're Cooking, Where we're Eating by Lindsay | 2 comments

Slick + I met Rosh + Z for dinner at Floataway Cafe on Friday night.  We ordered cocktails + Rosh and I both jumped at the Strawberry Pimm’s Cup.  (Neither of us had tried a Pimm’s Cup before, but we were feeling a little adventurous.)  I finished it WAY too fast – but with purpose.  It was so unbelievably delicious!  A perfect match for my summer fruit lovin’ palate…

We loved.  Look how pretty, too:

floataway cafe's strawberry pimm's cup

It would take some work, but this is a drink that would be a hit at a dinner party.  Definitely a crowd pleaser. 

Impress Your Friends w/ a Strawberry Pimm’s Cup:
Two ounces of Pimm’s
Two large strawberries (use a third if strawberries are not enormo)
Five mint leaves

Muddle all of that together and either strain (if you don’t like chunk) or pour directly into the glass (if you are chunk-friendly).

Top it off with homemade lemonade soda.  For every ounce of lemon juice add 3/4 an ounce of sweetener.  To the lemon concoction, add an equal amount of soda water on top.  Pour into muddled ingredients.

Drink + enjoy!  :)

You guys.  It is a.m.a.z.i.n.g.  No lie.

And, so was the rest of our meal.  All was splendid!  Here’s what we ate:

First
Atlantic Blue Fin Tuna Crudo, Blood Orange, Chili (my fav.)
Crispy Young Squid, Sweet Onions, Asparagus, Lemon
Wood Grilled Chicken Livers, Red Onion Jam, Sourdough (decided I don’t care for chix livers…to put it nicely)

Second
Wood Grilled Hanger Steak, Pommes Frites (x2)
Wood Grilled Georgia Quail, Caramelized Sweet Onions, Shallot Mostardo, Champagne Gastrique
Margherita Pizza with Chorizo + Farm Egg

Dolci
Toffee Cake w/ Vanilla Gelato (SUPER delish!)

Truly a delightful meal.  Recommend Floataway from top to bottom!

xx, L

Floataway Cafe
1123 Zonolite Road NE
Atlanta, GA  30306
404.892.1414
www.starprovisions.com

Floataway Cafe on Urbanspoon

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